5 Sanctuary Workers Get Probation

July 02, 1986|By United Press International.

TUCSON, ARIZ. — Five of eight religious workers convicted of smuggling illegal aliens into the United States as part of the Sanctuary Movement were given suspended sentences Tuesday and put on probation.

As part of their probations, three of the defendants were ordered by U.S. District Judge Earl H. Carroll not to associate with groups involved with illegal aliens, but the judge later said he would rescind that order when the final three defendants are sentenced Wednesday.

Carroll did not explain his change of heart. The defendants had said they would have trouble complying with such a restriction.

Each of the defendants, who were convicted May 1, could have been sentenced to 5 to 25 years in prison and fined between $2,000 and $18,000.

``My principles are wholly Christian,`` Maria Socorro Pardo de Aguilar told the judge through an interpreter before she was sentenced. ``This obligates me to keep my home open to all those in need and suffering.``

The 84 spectator seats in courtroom were packed for the sentencing, and a crowd lined up outside the federal court building.

Given five years` probation were Sister Darlene Nicgorski, 42, a Roman Catholic nun; Peggy Hutchison, 31, and Philip Willis-Conger, 28, both Methodist lay workers, and de Aguilar, 60, a Catholic lay worker from Nogales, Mexico. Wendy LeWin, 26, a former worker with the Central American Refugee Project, was given three years` probation.

To be sentenced Wednesday are Rev. Anthony Clark, 37, a Catholic priest from Nogales, Ariz.; Rev. Ramon Dagaoberto Quinones, 50, a Catholic priest from Nogales, Mexico, and Rev. John M. Fife of the Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson and a founder of the Sanctuary Movement.

All the defendants spoke out in defense of their actions.

``I don`t feel guilty,`` declared LeWin, who was convicted of illegal transportation of aliens. She told the judge most of the refugees she knows are ``miserable in this country. They want to go home.``

Nicgorski, Hutchison and Willis-Conger all defended their actions in helping Central Americans enter the United States, and said they doubted they could comply with Carroll`s order against associating with groups involved with illegal aliens.